Stitch-separating machine.



No. 703,575. I 1 Patent'ed July I, 1902.

' J. HADAWAY.

STITCH SEPABATING MACHINE.

(Application filed. Nov. 4, 1901.) (No Model.) 6 Sheeis$heet I.

iaz'trzeaaes Imam?" "m: Nuams PETERS ca. PucTo-ui'rga. WASNINGTOM n. c.

No. 703,575. Patented July I, I902.

J. B. HADAWAY.

STITBH SEPARATING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 4, 1901'.) (No Model.) v s Sheets-Sheet 2.

39 :wmedsea 0 1w: scams pznzns 00.. mowuumo. WASHXNGTON, D. c.

Patented July I, I902.

.1. HADA WAY. STITCH SEPABATING MACHINE.

(Application med Nov. 4. 1901..

6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

Inward-07 4 mi "cams PETERS coy. Pnorduma. WASHINGTON n. z:v

No. 703,575. Patented July I, I902.

J. B. HADAWAY. I

smcn SEPARATING MACHINE.

V (Application filed Nov. 4, 1901.) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Tu: Nonms zrsnspa, PNOYO-L|7HG.. WASNINDTON. u. c.

'No. 703,575. I Patented July I, I902. J. B. HADAWAY.

STITCH SEPARATING MACHINE.

(Application filed. Nov. 4, 1901 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

No. 703,575. Patented .Iuly l, I902. J. B. HADAWAY.

STITGH SEPABATING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 4, 1901.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. I-IADAWVAY, OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

STITCYH-SEPARATING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 703,575, dated July 1, 1902.

Application filed November 4,1901. Serial No. 81,071. (No model) To all whom it ntrty concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN B. HADAWAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stitch- Separating Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

The present invention relates to stitch-separating machines which are usedin the manufacture ofboots and shoes to indent the intervals between the stitches appearing at the outer edge of the sole, and more particularly to stitch-separating machines which are adapted to actupon the boot or shoe after the seam has been finished.

In my prior application's filed September 30,1901, Serial Nos. 77,135 and 77,136,I have disclosed two stitch-separating machines, the broad underlying principle of each of which consists in utilizing the stitch intervals to control the actuation of the indenting-tool, whereby the indenting-tool is actuated only when the relative positions of the tool and a stitch interval'are such as to cause the tool to properly indent-the stitch interval.

The object of the present invention is to produce a machine embodying this principle of operation in which the means for actuating the indenting-tool is more delicately and accurately controlled by the stitch intervals, which is simple in construction and reliable in operation, and which can be operated at a high rate of speed.

With these objects in view my invention,- broadly stated, consists in a stitch-separating machine. provided with electromechanical means controlled by the stitch'intervals for actuating the indenting-tool to indent the stitch intervals.

Broadly consideredfmy invention contemplates the use of an electromechanical means of any suitable form for actuating the indenting-tool, both a means in which the electrical device or devices produce the power by which the tool is actuated and a means in which the electrical device or devices merely act to control the application of power being within the purview thereof; As tending to simplicity of construction and to certainty and rapidity of operation I prefer to employ an electromechanical means in which the electrical device or devices produce the power by which the tool is actuated, and to this end I provide an electromagnet which when energized acts to force. the tool against the work to produce an indentation. This magnet, since it produces sufficient pressure to cause the indenting-tool to indent the work,

refer to it in the following description.

While any suitable means may be provided for retracting the tool from the work, I also prefer to provide a magnet for imparting this movement to the tool. mate and shall hereinafter refer to as a retracting-magnet.

The electromechanical means for actuating the indenting-tool may be controlled by the stitch intervals in any suitable manner. To' accomplish this result, however, a feature of cult-controller for said means, which circuitcontroller is controlled by the stitch intervals so asto be actuated to throw theelectromechanical means for actuating the indentingtool into operation whenever the relative positions of the tool and a stitch interval are such as to cause the tool to properly indent the stitch interval. in the drawings, in which the electromechanical means for actuating the indenting-tool comprises a pressure-magnet, this circuitcontroller consists of a circuit-closer, which is controlled by the stitch intervals so as tobe actuated to close the circuit of the pressure-magnet at the proper times.

cation No. 77,135, means are provided for locating the indenting-tool in a stitch interval and for throwing the mechanism for actuating the indenting-tool into operation after the tool has been so located.

this principle of operation and consists. in means whereby the circuit-controller forthe electromechanical means is thrown into operation when the tool has been located in a stitch interval.

A feature of the present invention also contemplates utilizing the movement of the too] my invention contemplates providing a cir-' I designate a pressure-magnet and shall so This magnet I desig In the machine illustrated In the machine disclosed in my prior appli- A feature of the present invention contemplates utilizing" into the stitch interval to throw the means for actuating the tool to indent the work into operation, as in the machine disclosed in my prior application No. 77,135, and consists in providing means for holding the indentingtool in contact with the work and causing itto enter the stitch intervals and means whereby the circuit-controller for the electromechanical means for actuating the indenting-tool is thrown into operation by the movement of the tool into a stitch interval.

Other features of my invention consist in certain devices and combinations of devices, which will be hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

A stitch-separating machine embodying my invention in its preferred form is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the machine, a portion of the frame being broken away to show underlying parts. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4 is a section plan view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the indenting-tool-actuating lever. Fig. 6 is adetail view, in side elevation, showing the circuit-controlling devices and the means for actuating them. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the devices shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is aview somewhat diagrammatic,showing the circuit connections of the magnets, for convenience of illustration the two contact-levers being shown one above the other and the contacts to which one each of the terminals of the pressure and retracting magnets are connected being shown at one side of their adjacent contacts. Fig. 10 is a view in side elevation of a bracket which forms aportion of the machineframe, and Fig. 11 is a view in front elevation thereof.

As has already been indicated, the machine shown in the drawings is provided with a pressure-magnet for forcing the tool against the work to produce an indentation and with a retracting-magnet for elevating the tool from the work. The tool is normally held against the work by means of a spring and is caused to enter the intervals between the stitches by the spring. Circuit-closers are provided for the pressure and retracting magnets, and these circuit-closers are arranged to be actuated by the movement of the tool. \Vhile the tool is held raised by contacting with the crowns of the stitches in the work, the circuit-closers are held in such a position that the circuits of both the pressure and the retracting magnets are broken. When the tool is allowed to descend into a stitch interval, the circuit-closers are actuated to close the circuit of the pressure-magnet. During the indenting movement of the tool, due to the force exerted by the pressure-magnet, the circuit-closers are operated to open the circuit of the pressure-magnet and to close the circuit of the retracting-magnet. During the retracting movement of the indenting-tool the circuit-closers are actuated to break the circuit of the retracting-magnet. The work is supported beneath the indenting-tool by means of a rotatable Work-support and is fed past the tool with a nearly-continuous movement by means of a feeding mechanism comprising two four-motion feed devices, this feed mechanism being substantially the same as that disclosed in my two prior applications hereinbefore referred to Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the base-plate of the machine-frame, which is supported upon a suitable base or standard 2. A standard 3 rises from the front portion of the base, and two standards 4 and 5 rise from the rear portion thereof. A bracket 6 (shown separately in Figs. 10 and 11) is bolted to the top of the standard 3, and a horizontal plate 7 is bolted upon the upper ends of the standards 4 and 5 and to a log projecting rearwardly from the bracket 6. Four standards or rods 8, 9, 10, and 1] rise from the plate 7 and are connected at their upper ends by means of a plate 12, secured to the tops of the standards, the standards and the plate 12 forming a supporting-frame for the pressuremagnet, as will hereinafter appear.

The indenting-tool is indicated at 13 and is adjustably secured, by means of a clampingbolt 14, in clamping-jaws at the lower end of a rod 15, mounted to reciprocate in a guideway formed in the front overhanging portion of the bracket 6. The rod 15 extends above the bracket 6 and at its upper end is provided with an arm 16, which is secured thereto and extends laterally therefrom. AscreW-threaded bolt 17 passes through the arm 10 and is connected, by means of a coiled spring 18,with a pin 19, projecting from the bracket 6. The spring 18 tends to depress the rod 15 and to press the tool 13 against the work, which is supported beneath the tool by a suitable worksupport, as will be hereinafter described. A screw-threaded nut engaging the bolt 17 and bearing against the upper surface of the arm serves as a means for adjusting the tension of the spring 18.

For actuating the rod 15 to force the tool against the Work to produce an indentation and to raise the tool from the work a lever 20 is provided, which is pivoted to the bracket 6 and is provided in front of its pivot with a slot which receives a rectangular block 21, pivotally mounted upon a stud projecting laterally from the rod 15. To the rear end of the lever 20 is secured the armature 22 of the pressure-magnet, and to the front end of the ICC lever is secured the armature 23 of the retracting-magnet. The pressure-magnet is indicated at 24 and is secured to the under surface of the plate 12 by means of bolts which pass through the plate and screw into the yoke of the magnet. The retracting-magnet 25 is secured to an L-shape plate 26, bolted to the upper front portion of the bracket 6.

It is desirable that the retracting movement of the indenting-tool under the action of the retracting-magnet 25 be retarded for a purpose which will be hereinafter explained, and to accomplish this result the rear end of the le-- opening to allow the escape of the air in the cylinder above the piston, while the downward stroke of the piston is retarded, the valve being closed and the air being allowed to enter the cylinder above the piston slowly through the inlet 33.

The circuit connections of the magnets 24 and 25 will be understood from an inspection of Fig. 9. Referring to this figure, it will be seen that one terminal of each of the magnets is connected to a binding-post 34, to which one terminal of the battery or other source of current is connected. The other terminals of the magnets 24 and 25 are connected to the stationary contacts 35 and 36, respectively. A stationary contact 37 is arranged beside the contact 35, and a similar contact 38 is arranged beside the contact 36. The contacts 37 and 38 are connected together and to a stationary contact 39. Coacting with the contacts 35 37 and 36 38 is a circuit-closing plate or spring 40, and coact ing with the contact 39 is a similar plate or spring 41, which is connected to the binding post 42, to which the other terminal of the battery or source of currentis connected. It will be seen that the above-described arrangement is such that when' the circuit-closing plate 41 is out of engagement with contact 39 the circuits of both magnets 24 and 25 are broken, that when circuit-closing plate 41 is in engagement with contact 39 and circuitclosing plate 40 is in engagement with contacts 37 and 35 the circuit of magnet 24 is closed and the circuit of magnet 25 is open, and that when circuit-closing plate 41 is in engagement with contact 39 and circuit-closing plate 40 is in engagement with contacts 38 and 36 the circuit of magnet 25 is closed and the circuit of magnet 24 is open. In order to avoid sparking at the contacts, a condenser may be connected in the circuit in a well-known manner. Such a condenser is indicated at 100, attached to the rear of the machine by brackets secured to the plate 7.

As has been stated, the work is supported beneath the indenting-tool and is fed past the tool, which is pressed thereon by means of a spring 18 and caused to enter a stitch interval when the stitch interval is brought beneath the point of the tool. In order to cause the circuit-closing plates 40 and 41 to be actuated to close and open the circuits of magnets 24 and 25 to produce the proper'movements of the indenting-tool to indent the stitch intervals, the following construction is provided: The circuit-closing plate 41 is secured to a lever 43, pivotally mounted upon a stud projecting laterally from a block 44, adjustably mounted on a vertical guideway formed on the side of the bracket 6, as is clearly shownin Figs. 6 and 7. The front end of the lever 43 is provided with a notch in its lower side, which engages apin 45, secured in a block bolted to the rearside of the rod 15. The front end of the lever 43 is acted upon by a coiled spring 46, which tends to move the lever in a direction to bring the contact-plate 41 into engagement with contact 39. The initial adjustment of the parts is such that while the rod 15 is held raised by the contact of the tool 13 with the crowns of the stitches the contact-plate 41 is held away from the contact 39 by the engagement of pin 45 with the end of lever 43. When, however, the rod 15 descends during the movement of the indentingtool into a stitch interval, the spring 46 swings the lever 43 upon its pivot and brings the plate 41 into engagement with the contact 39. The contact-plate 40 is secured to a lever 47, pivoted upon a stud projecting laterally from a block 48, adjustably secured to the bracket 6 on the opposite side to the block 44. A friction-disk 49, mounted upon the pivot-stud of the lever, is pressed against the lever by means of a coiled spring 50, surrounding the stud and interposed between the friction-disk and an adj usting-nut 51. so as to remain in whatever position to which it is moved. The front end of the lever 47 is split to form upper and lower portions, which are adjustable toward and from each otherby means of adjusting-screws 52 and 53. Between the adjusting-screws the portions of the lever are grooved to form an opening to receive the end of the pin 45, hereinbefore referred to, said pin, as is clearly shownin Fig. 7, projecting on each side of the rod 15 and being engaged at one end by the lever 43 and at the other end by the lever 47 As is shown in the drawings, the portions of the lever 47 are adjustable to allow lost motion between the pin 45 and the lever. The initial adjustment of the contacts 36 38 and 35 37 and of the contact-plate 40 and its actuating-lever 47 is such that when the rod 15 is ICO The lever 47 is thus frictionally mounted held in its raised position by the contact of the indenting-tool with the crowns of the stitches the plate 40 is in engagement with contacts 35 and 37, as is indicated in Fig. 9. Theamount of lost motion between the pin 45 and lever 47 is sufticient to allow the rod I 15 to move when the indenting-tool enters'a stitch interval without actuating the lever 47.

The operation of the devices so far described pressed against the work by the spring 18,

and so long as the tool rests upon the crown of a stitch the rod 15 is held raised and the contact-plates 40 and 41 are in the position indicated in Fig. 9, the contacts 35 and 37 being bridged by the plate 40 and the plate 41 being separated from the contact 39. In this condition of the apparatus the circuits of both magnets 24 and 25 are open. When a stitch interval is brought beneath the indenting-tool the indenting-tool is forced into the interval by the spring 18, and the downward movement of the rod 15 during this movement of the indenting-tool is suificient to allow the contact-plate 41 to engage contact 39,

but is not sufficient to cause the plate 40 to be raised from the contacts and 37. The circuit of pressure-magnet 24 is thus closed and the armature 22 is attracted. The lever 20 is thus swung upon its pivot and the rod 15 is depressed to force the indenting-tool into the work to produce an indentation. During the indenting movement of the tool the movement imparted to the rod 15 is sufficient to separate the plate from the contacts 35 and 37 and bring it into engagement with contacts 36 and 38. The circuit of the pressure-magnet 24 is thus opened and the circuit of the retracting-magnet 25 is closed. The armature 23 is now attracted by the magnet 25 and the lever 20 is swung upon its pivot in the opposite direction and the rod 15 is raised to produce the retracting movement of the indenting-tool. During the upward movement of the rod 15 the contactplates 40 and 41 are returned to the positions indicated in Fig. 9, thereby breaking the circuits of the pressure and retracting magnets. The construction is such that the plate 41 is separated from the contact 39 before the plate 40 is again brought into engagement with contacts 35 and 37, so that the circuit of the pressure-magnet is not again closed. If no means were provided for retarding the retracting movement of the indenting-tool, the circuit of the retractingmagnet might be broken and the tool allowed to descend upon the'work under the influence of spring 18 before the stitch interval which had been indented had been removed from beneath the indenting-tool. By providing the means for retarding the retracting movement of the indenting-tool hereinbefore described a sulficient interval of time elapses before the circuit of the retracting-magnet is broken to allow the stitch interval to be removed from beneath the tool, so that when the tool again descends upon the work under the influence of spring 18 it strikes at one side of the stitch interval.

The binding-posts 34 and 42 and the contacts 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39 are mounted upon a plate of insulating material 54, set in a recess formed in the upper front portion of the plate 7. The contacts 36, 38, and 39 consist of screws supported in overhanging brackets screwed to the plate 54 and are secured in position by means of clamping-bolts, as is clearly shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8. The contacts 35 and 37 are located directly beneath the contacts 36 and 38, and consist of screws held by means of clamping-screws in metallic plates secured to the plate 54. The brackets and plates in which the contacts are mounted are provided with suitable binding-posts to receive the ends of the circuit-wires.

The work-support is indicated at 55 and consists of a Hat disk rotatably mounted upon a bracket adj ustably secured to the upper end of a slide 56, mounted in vertical guideways in the front portion of the standard 3 of the machine-frame. The adjustable connection between the bracket upon which the work-support is mounted and the slide 56, which connection consists of a headed screw 57, passing through a slot in the bracket and screwing into the slide 56, enables the worksupport to be adjusted vertically to suit the thickness of the work to be operated upon. During the operation of the machine the work-support is held rigidly in position.

In order to allowthe work-support to be lowered for the insertion of work beneath the indenting-tool, the following construction is provided: From the lower front portion of the slide 56 a log 58 projects, and to this lug is pivotally connected the forked upper end of a lever 59, the lower end of which is pivotally connected to the forked upper end of a lever 60. The lower end of the lever is also forked and is pivotally connected to the forward end of a stationary bracket 61, secured to the front portion of the standard 3 beneath the guideway for the slide 56. The levers 59 and 60 thus form a toggle-joint, by means of which the slide 56 and the worksupport 55 can be raised and lowered. When the levers 59 and 60 are in line, the work-support is locked against downward movement, and the levers are normally held in this position by means of a coiled spring 62, which is connected at one end to the pivot-pin which joins the levers together and at the other end to the frame of the machine. For moving the levers out of line and lowering the slide 56 and the work-support 55 an arm 63 is provided, which projects horizontally from the lower end of the lever 60 andis connected by means of a rod 64 to a treadle. (Not shown.) The movement of the levers 59 and 60 under the influence of the spring 62 is limited bya stop-pin 65 on the bracket 61.

The feeding mechanism is best illustrated in Fig. 4 and, as shown, comprises two feeding-jaws 66 and 67, which extend over the work-support 55 on opposite sides of the indenting-tool. These jaws are secured to jawactuating levers 68 and 69, which are pivotally mounted upon lugs projecting upwardly from feed-slides 70 and 71, so as to oscillate in vertical planes. The feed-slides 7 O and 71 are mounted to reciprocate in horizontal guideways in the upper portion of the standard 3. For actuating the slide 70 a feed-lever 72 is provided, pivoted upon the stand- IIO ' work past the indenting-tool.

ard 3 and provided at its rear end with a roll engaging a cam-groove in a cam 73. This cam is secured to the driving-shaft 7 4,1nounted in .bearings in the standards 4 and 5 of the machine-frame, said shaft being provided at one end with a driving-pulley 75 and at the otherjend with a hand-wheel 76. The front end of the lever 72 is adjustably connected to the feed-slide 7 0. by means of a bolt passing through a slot in the lever and into a rectangular block mounted'in a slot in the feed-slide. For actuating the feed-slide 71 a lever 77, similar to the lever 72, is provided, which is actuated from a cam-groove in a cam 78, secured to the driving-shaft 74.. The cams 73 and 78 are also providedwith cam-grooves, with which the rear ends of the levers 68 and 69 engage. The operation of this feeding mechanism may be briefly described as follows: Starting with the parts in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, in which the jaws 66 and 67 are down upon the work and in their extreme positions to the right and left, respectively, the feeding-jaw 67 is raised from the work and moved toward the right and simultaneously the feeding jaw 66 is moved toward the left, thereby feeding the The feedingjaw 67 then descends upon the work, and the feeding-j aw 66 rises from the work. The feeding-jaw 67 is then moved to the left to again feed the work past the indenting-tool, and the feeding-jaw 66 is moved to the right and then into contact with the Work, thus completing a cycle of operations. 'It will be seenv that the movement imparted to the work by the feeding-jaws is nearly continuous. By adjusting the extent of the movements imparted to the feed-slide the distance the work is fed before the indenting-tool again comes in contact with the work after having been actuated to indent a stitch interval can be varied and the indenting-tool caused to strike at one side of the stitch interval.

Having thus indicated the nature and scope of my invention and having specifically described the preferred embodiment thereof, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. A stitch-separating machine, having, in combination,an indenting-tool and electrom echanical means controlled by the stitch intervals for actuating the indenting-tool to indent the stitch intervals, substantially as described.

2. A stitch-separating machine, having, in

combination, an indenting-tool, electrome chanical means for actuating the indentingtool to indent the stitch intervals, and a circuit-controller for said means controlled by the stitch intervals, substantially as described.

3. A stitch-separating machine, having, in combination, an indentingtool, electromechanical means for actuating the indentingtool to indent the stitch intervals including a pressure-magnet and a retracting magnet, means controlled by the stitch intervals for closing a circuit through the pressure-magnet, and means for breaking said circuit and for closing a circuit through the retracting-magnet, substantially as described.

4. A stitch-separating machine, having, in combination, an indenting-tool, means for holding the tool in contact with the work and causing it to enterthe stitch intervals, electromechanical means for actuating the indenting-tool to indent the stitch intervals, and a circuit-controller for said means thrown into operation by the movement of the tool into a stitch interval, substantially as described.

5. A stitch-separating machine, having, in combination, an indenting-tool, electrometchanical means for actuating the indentingvtool to indent the stitch intervals including a pressure-magnet, and means controlled by the stitch intervals for closing the circuit of said magnet, substantially as described. 6. A stitch-separating machine, having, in combination, an indenting-tool, electromechanical means for actuating the indentingtool to indent the stitch intervals including a pressure-magnet and a retracting-magnet, means controlled by the stitch intervals for closing a circuit through the pressure-magnet, means for breaking said circuit and forclosing a circuit through the retracting-magnet, and means for retarding the retracting movement of the tool, substantially as described.

7. A stitch-separating machine, having, in combination, an indenting-tool, means for holding the indenting-tool in contact with the work and causing it to enter the stitch intervals, electromechanical means for actuating the indenting-tool to indent thestitch intervals including a pressure-magnet, and means thrown into operation by the movement of the tool into a stitch interval for closing the circuit of said magnet, substantially as described.

8. A stitch-separating machine, having, in V combination, an indenting-tool, means for holding the indenting-tool in contact with the work and causing it to enter the stitch intervals, electromechanical means for actuating the indenting-tool to indent the stitch intervals including a pressure-magnet and a retracting-magnet, means thrown into operation by the movement of the tool into a stitch interval for closing the circuit of the pressure-magnet, and means thrown into operation by the indenting movement of the tool for breaking said circuit and for closing the circuit of the retract-in g-magnet,substantially as described.

9. A stitch-separating machine, having, in combination, an indenting-tool, means for relatively moving the work and tool to locate the tool in the stitch intervals, electromechanical means for actuating the indentingtool to indent the stitch intervals and a circult-controller for said means thrown into op- I when a stitch interval is brought into a posieration when the tool has been located in a tion to be acted upon by the indenting-tool, stitch interval, substantially as described. substantially as described.

10. A stitch-separating machine, having, In testimony whereof I affix my signature 5 in combination, an indenting-tool, means for in presence of two Witnesses.

feeding the work, electromechanical means i r for actuating the indenting-tool to indent the JOHN HADAWVAX stitch intervals, and a circuit-controller for Witnesses: said means controlled by the stitch intervals FRED O. FISH, IO acting to throw said means into operation ALFRED II. I'IILDRE'IH. 

